So as I mentioned recently, I’ve been in Orlando for a few days with my friend Laura, experiencing the fabulous food (plus the odd ride, parade, and other lovely things) available throughout Walt Disney World.

One of the highlights of Walt Disney World for me is Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I adore the showbiz theming – it feels like a real movie set, with all the main areas seamlessly blending into each other.

Plus, some of my favourite rides are there: the scream-inducing Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, where you enter the terrifying ‘Hollywood Tower Hotel’ and take a haunted elevator ride to the top (and swiftly back down again – and maybe up again and down again as well), and the frankly fantastic Rock’n’Roller Coaster (we went on twice, back to back – I would have done more had my lunch not threatened to reappear):

With Drew at the Rock’n’Roller Coaster

Pixar Place has loads of Toy Story characters, and Toy Story Midway Mania, a 3D shooting game that brings out the competitive nature of even the mildest mannered visitor!

Toy Story Midway Mania

Another show I love is Muppet*Vision 3D, where guests get to sit in a real theatre and watch The Muppet Show (complete with Statler and Waldorf hurling insults up in their theatre box). By this time it was raining, but it just didn’t matter, we had an umbrella and weren’t afraid to use it:

With Laura at Muppet*Vision 3D

After working up an appetite laughing at The Muppets, it was time for a visit to the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. The gorgeous Brown Derby is an institution at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The restaurant is decorated in classic ‘old Hollywood’ style, with walls lined with caricatures of Hollywood stars:

The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

… and is THE place to go for a classic cocktail…

My ‘Tallulah-tini’ cocktail, poured at the table

Cocktails at the Hollywood Brown Derby

The menu boasts a range of classic American dishes, and the Cobb salad is legendary. Apparently, 63,000 Cobb salads are tossed every year at The Hollywood Brown Derby, and the dressing is still the original recipe, created in 1926! If you’re not familiar with a Cobb salad, they’re a mix of loads of different finely chopped ingredients: salad leaves, turkey, tomato, bacon, avocado, egg, blue cheese… absolutely delicious:

The wine selection at the Hollywood Brown Derby is especially good. Walt Disney World takes its wine VERY seriously – there are over 300 highly skilled sommeliers working across the resort. This Napa Cabernet Sauvignon was utterly delicious – smooth, silky and lush with soft tannins – the perfect foil to my fillet of beef with a gorgeous truffle oil and wild mushroom mash. Divine.

Sequoia Grove wine

So – surprised at the quality of the food and wine? Gobsmacked that you can eat in gorgeous fine dining restaurants in the middle of a Walt Disney park? Yup, thought you would be. And the news just gets better and better, because if you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World next year, there’s an incredible offer available. Book a selected Walt Disney World holiday* before 4th November and you’ll receive a FREE Disney Dining Plan for everyone over 3 years old travelling, plus $100 Disney Dollars per booking to spend in resort!

What does this mean? Well, it basically takes all the hassle out of paying for your food while you’re at Walt Disney World during your holiday. If you book to stay in a Walt Disney World moderate resort, you’ll get the Quick-Service Dining Plan free. This entitles you to two quick (counter)-service meals per person (per night stayed), including a dessert, plus a snack (Disney snacks are legendary – take your pick of cupcakes, cookies, Starbucks coffee, ice creams) and one of those refillable mugs that you can keep topped up in loads of different places. So if you’re busy whizzing around the parks, and just want to stop off for quick food options on the way, this is the package for you.

If you book a deluxe hotel and ticket package, you get the Dining Plan, which means you’ll get one quick-service meal, including a dessert, plus a table service meal (this includes all the gorgeous table service dining options such as Tony’s Town Square, or fine dining at places like the Hollywood Brown Derby, and Jiko – The Cooking Place) per person (per night stayed) as well as the snack and refillable mug for your drinks.

This is such a great value offer. Plus, I’ve got a special giveaway coming soon too if you’re planning on booking a holiday.

How to get there:

7 nights in Orlando from £1,185pp

Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick direct to Orlando, accommodation at the 5V Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on a room only basis and car hire included starts from £1,185pp. Price is per person based on 2 adults travelling and sharing a standard room and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 29 November 2015. Start your holiday before you’ve even taken off in the v-room at Gatwick Airport…adults £24.50, Kids from £14. Virgin Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected.

To book, and for more info: www.virginholidays.co.uk , 0844 557 3859 or visit one of our 110 stores located in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores nationwide.